Q&A with Phillip Margolin
Phillip Margolin, author of “Sleight of Hand,” has written 16 New York Times best-sellers, including “Capitol Murder” and “Supreme Justice.” Each of his books displays a unique, compelling insider’s view of criminal behavior, which comes from his long background as a criminal defense attorney who handled 30 murder cases. With “Vanishing Acts,” he teamed up with his daughter, Ami Margolin Rome, to write a gripping tween mystery. Winner of the Distinguished Northwest Writer Award and the Spotted Owl Award for “Executive Privilege,” Phillip lives in Portland, Ore.
What are the best books you’ve read recently?
I’ve read several exceptional books lately. Hilary Mantell’s “Wolf Hall” and “Bringing Up the Bodies” won back-to-back Mann Booker Prizes and rightfully so. They are really just one book and she’s writing a third to complete the trilogy. I can’t wait. For non-fiction, I heard about Robert Caro’s biography of Lyndon Johnson, which is currently four volumes and about three thousand pages long. I decided to give Volume One a try figuring I’d probably put it down a few hundred pages in. I’ve raced through the first two volumes and they are more exciting than any fictional political thriller and more unbelievable. I’ve bought Volume Three and I’m saving it for a vacation. Yes, they are that exciting.
What was your favorite book as a child?
I’ve had two exciting careers, 25 years as a criminal defense attorney and about the same as a thriller writer. I started reading adult books in elementary school and the Perry Mason novels obviously had a massive impact, as did all of the mysteries written by Ellery Queen, which — unlike most mysteries — can be solved if you can decipher the not so obvious clues.
Why do you enjoy attending book festivals, either as a presenter or audience member?
I love going to book festivals and really enjoy being a presenter. Writing is very solitary and attending a book festival gives me a chance to meet fans and other writers. I’m as much a fan myself as I am a writer so I get a real thrill out of meeting authors I admire. Also, I am totally self-taught [I got a C in my only creative writing course in college] so I enjoy teaching writing or talking about my weird career and I especially enjoy answering questions because I never had the chance before I was published to ask an established writer how you do this stuff.
Have you been to the D.C. area before? If so, what is your favorite thing about it?
I went to The American University as an undergraduate. My daughter, Ami Margolin Rome, my co-author, on “Vanishing Acts,” our mystery for 8-12 year olds, got her Masters Degree at American and was a Presidential Management Fellow at the U.S. Department of Education. AND she lived in Gaithersburg. My wife and I stayed in Lakelands several times when we were visiting.
What is the most difficult, or challenging, aspect of being a writer?
The most difficult and challenging aspect of writing for me is getting an idea for a plot that is complex enough to fill up a four hundred page book. Writing comes pretty easy. Thinking up something to write about is hard for me. Fortunately, I only have to come up with one idea a year.